Electroprocessing machine



Dec. 5, 1939. G, TODD ELECTROPROCESSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1939. G, TQDD 2,182,184

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G, TODD ELECTROPROCESSING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 5, 1939. G TODD 2,182,184

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE;

ELECTROPROCESSING. AMACHINE Guerin Todd, Shrewsbury, N. J., assignor to Hanson-Van Winkle-Munning Company, Matawan,-` N. J., a corporationxof New `Jersey l Applicationseptember 7, 1937, Serial No. 162,707

13 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) It is the object of my invention to provide an electroprocessing machine and particularly one in which side arms are employed that are moved vertically while being maintained in the horizontal position during the connection transfer operation as well as during the normal movement of the arms over the succession of treatment` tanks.

It is the object of my invention to provide mechanism for transporting. and transferring such arms located to one side of a series of tanks, or between two series of tanks, and with a minimum ofoverhead height.

It is the object oi my invention to provide means of synchronously moving a main conveyor chain, step bystep, and of elevating and moving over adjacent-.partitions of adjacent tanks and of lowering the side arms without changing the. relative longitudinal position `of the side arms with respect tothe main carrier chains.

It is the particular object of this inventionto provide pneumatically or hydraulically operated mechanism perfectly associated with electrical timing mechanism for moving the mainchain conveyors on which areA mounted a plurality of vertically reciprocating, horizontally projecting side arms, and vertically reciprocating said side arms in succession, soas to cause the racks and work pieces carried thereby `to be quicklyY trans.- ferred from one tank to the other at'adjacent ends of the tanks. v

It isthe object of the invention to effect such a transfer hydraulically or pneumatically without detaching the side Iarms from the carrier chains;

It is the object to provide spaced carrier chains between which are pairs of vertically disposed guide rods which serve as means to support the laterally extending side arms on the chains;` it is the object to provide these guide rods which serve as tracks for guiding the vertical reciprocating movements of the side arms while preserving the side arms in a horizontal position.

It is a further object to provide elevators that are `intermittently engaged by the side arms.

These -armsare elevated by the elevators on which. tracksv are provided so that the main conveyory chains can'oontinue the movement horizontally of the side arms while in their elevated positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a synchronous system for hydraulically elevating a plurality of elevators and of counterbalancing the. raising and lowering of each elevator; and of hydraulically balancing one elevator:r with respecttothe other.

It is a further object of electrically Vtiming such hydraulic raising and lowering'ofl a plurality of elevators;

Itis the objectfof the inventionto electrically control the synchronous` hydraulic actuationof the carrier chains to. bring about vhorizontal move- 5 ment vof the arms intheir; lowered andielevated` positions.

It is a further' object to ycontrolloy the elevators thek applicationof hydraulic uid for the move-A ment of` said chains andthe evacuationof said l0 y uid from the moving vmeans therefor.

Referring to they drawings:`

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of atypical electroprocessing sequence which can be ein-- ployed with a machine of thisv invention. It will.` 15 be understood that this isA just illustrative, and is not intended to limit the arrangement of the tanks, condition of the tanks; orany sequence of treatment of work pieces.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of .one ofthe electro- 20 processing machinesofr this invention showing a. part of the tanksbroken away, and a part of the, tanks in section.

Figure 3 is a sectiononthe line 3--3 of Figure 2 looking -in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a Ksection onthelinel-l'of Flgure3i looking in the direction of the arrows, showing. thle velevating cam track andthe` guide rods-ifo'r the side armsinsection.v

Figure 5 is a section on the line. 5-5 of Figure 3 30; looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a section onthe'line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a portion of Fig. v.3 showing the overtravel of the elevator in its descending motion.V

Figure 8 is a section'on theiine 8-'8 of Figure 3. Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--9 of Figure 5. Figure 10 lis a section onthe line l 0-I0 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a section onthe line I|,-|| of'Fig- 40 Figure 17 isa detailed side elevation of the modified form of arm carrier.

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the spring unlatch mechanism for the elevator to unlatch the modified carrier from its upper position to permitl it to be lowered.

Figure 19 is a top plan view of Figure 1'1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I designates a loading position, 2 an electric cleaning tank, 3 a water dip tank, 4 an acid tank, 5 a water dip tank, 6 a plating tank, 1 a cold water dip tank, 8 a hot water dip tank, 9 a drier, and I0 an unloading station.

It will be understood that any succession of treatment tanks may be employed. It is preferred that the tanks be arranged on both sides of a central column. Such apparatus, (referring to Fig. l) is located in the space indicated as II.

Operating mechanism The machine of this invention consists of a plurality of vertical structural columns I2. Mounted on the top of these columns I2 are three horizontally disposed cap plates I3, I4 and I5. Depending anges I6 and I1 form the outer cap plates and act as trackways for the rollers I8 of the upper guide conveyor chain I9. The central cap plate I4 rests upon the vertical elevator guides 20. The angle irons 2l serve to suport the inner sides of the outer cap plate members I3 and I5. The vertical columns I2 also serve as supports for the brackets 2Iai on. which are mounted the platforms 22 that serve as supports for the rollers 23 of the lower conveyor chains 24. The rollers 25 thereof engage between the flanges 26 and 21 constituting a track guldeway mounted on the platform 22. These brackets 2 Ia also carry the supports 28 for the cathode rails 29 which are engaged by the spring pressed shoes 30 carried by the side arms 3I.

Side arm construction The'se side arms are providedat their inner end with three rollers. Rollers 32 and 33 engage opposite sides of the vertical guide rods- 34 which are carried between the chains I9 and 24. The

General driving mechanism These upper and lower conveyor chains I9 and 24 are driven by sprockets 38 and 39 mounted on a shaft 40 which in turn is connected to an internal ratchet wheel 4I. A pawl 42, (see Figs. 2, 12 andl3) engages with the ratchet 4I to advance it and to thereby advance the chains. This advancement is effected through the actuation of the pitman 43 pivotally connected at 44 to the pawl 42 and the lever 45. The other end of the pitman is connected `to a cross-head 46 operating between the cross-head guides 41. The cross-head is in turn connected to a piston rod 48, which is connected to a piston 49 in the cylthe shaft 40 and its associated sprockets.

Elevatorl There are provided at intervals elevator guide rods 2l) arranged in series on which travel the elevator guide blocks 53. These blocks are connected on either side from end to end of the machine b y the vertically disposed plates 54.

The bottom of these plates 54 are connected by a cross-plate 55. The cross-head 53 of the elevator is connected to a piston rod 56`operating in a cylinder 51, and is utilized for raising and lowering the elevator. This elevator structure has pivoted, on either side at intervals adjacent where the side arms must be transferred from over one tank to another, elevator swinging trackways 58 having arcuate tracks 59 for receiving the roller 35 of the side arm. These trackways are limited in their movements about the pivot 60 by the stop pin 6Ia. The roller 6I and slot 62 acting as a raceway for the rollers 6I are for the purpose of relieving the twist in the trackway 58 caused by the weight of the sidearms 3l. The rotation of this swinging elevator trackway 58 about the pivot is resisted by the spring 63 so that it is habitually presented, unless deflected so that the trackway 59 is in line with the incoming roller 35. The rod 66 is provided with a cap plate 64 and a bottom plate 65 between which are balls 66 formsaid carrier when the elevator moves upwardly.

The other end of the curved member then clears the extended lifting rollers on the carrier ahead. When the elevator reaches the topl of its travel the chain structure is moved forward one carrier pitch-and the lifting rollers on the elevator carrier forces the groove on the curved lifter member causing .the lifter member to turn upon its pivot against the pressure of the spring. Then the elevator descends, the carriers are placed in the next tank, and the lifter member clears the pick-up rollers 35 of the following carrier. A

' slight over travel of the elevator releases the pick-up roller 35 of the carrier which has just been transferred and the spring 63 on the curved lifter member turns this member so that it will clear the pick-up roller 35 of the carrier which was just transferred. It will engage the pick-upv roller of the next carrier when the elevator ascends again.

Method of operation The method of operation of this apparatus can be more clearly understood by referring to the The spring 63 holds this tons 56a serve to hydraulically elevate and lower the elevator structure generally designated 53. The piston rod 56 is extended as at 61 so as to move the valve lift 6B of valve 69 to admit fluid pressure from the line 1I) to the line 1I, which communicates with the cylinder 50 for the purpose of actuating the carrier chains I9 and 24 throughout the ratchet and pawl construction 4I, 42 and 43. Fluid is admitted through the pipe 10 by the opening of valve 12 which is effected electrically by the closing of the circuit 13, 14, switch 15, 16 and switch 11, 18. The purpose of this is to only permit the admission of fluid to the cylinder 50 when all of the elevators are at their maximum upper position so that the ovement o! the chains can take place to transrt the side arms in their elevated position.

The timing of the elevators is effected in the following manner: A timing motor 19 operating through gearing 80 rotates the setting cams 8| and 82 which control,respeotively, the switches 83 and 84. These switches close the solenoid circuits 95 and 86 which are supplied from the power lines 81 and 88, depending upon which one of the solenoids 85 or 86 is energized. The valve 89 is moved through its valve handle 90 so as to either supply liquid from the pipe 96 to the pipes 92 and 94 to the bottom of the cylinder 93 and through the pipes 94 and 95 to the top of that cylinder. This same line.96 communicates to the pipe 10. The top and bottom of the cylinders 51 are connected, respectively, by pipes 91 and 98 to the top and bottom, respectively, of the cylinder l99. In this cylinder is the piston and piston rod |0|. piston |02 and piston rod |03. These pistons |0| and |03 are connected together by the bar 04, which acts as a counterbalance weight. Pressure is applied to counterbalance this weight |04 equally on either side of |02 from pipes 94 and 95. When the valve 89 is turned to position shown, the water beneath |02 escapes through 9| and the weight |04 causes |02 to descend. On the downward operation of the elevator which corresponds to the upward stroke of the piston |02, the water is forced out of the upper side of the cylinder 93. This water may be conveyed to the left hand side of the chain operating cylinder 50 to return its piston to its original position unless the spring |06 is used for that purpose. The upward movement of the piston rod |03- also moves the piston |00 and piston rod |0| upwardly so as to force the fluid out of the top of the cylinder 99 and into the top of the cylinders 51 to force the elevator 53 downwardly. The uid below the piston 56a passes into the bottom ofthe cylinder 99 so that very little power is required, due to the counterbalancing effect. If desired, the chain actuating cylinder may be provided with a spring |06 to'facilitate the ,movement of its piston rod 48 and the piston 49. To summarize this operation, the pistons of cylinders 93, 99--99 are connected by yoke |04. Pressure is always applied to the top of cylinder 93. Unless this pressure is balanced bypressure on the bottom of 93, the elevator is held up by cylinders 51. Timing contacts 8| and 82 are driven by motor 19 through a reduction gear. When 8| turns it energizes solenoid 85 throwing valve 89 to admit pressure to the bottom of cylinder 93. Balanced pressure on both sides of 93 allow the elevator to descend by its own weight lifting pistons in cylinders 93 and 99-99. The descent of the elevator allows the spring to throw valve 69 and allow the piston 49 in cylinder 50 to move to the right which movement is the back stroke of the ratchet mechanism for advancing the conveyor chains. After a dwell period cam 82 closes the circuit to solenoid 86 throwing valve 89 to allow pressure on the'bottom of 93 to be released. This causes the elevator to ascend. The elevatorthrows valve 69 to supply pressure to cylinder 50 for advancing the chain if solenoid valve 12 is open. Valve 12 does not open unless the elevator has reached the top of its travel and closed switches 15 and 11.

It will thus be seen that the elevator is elevated with the ,carrier arms, then the main carrier chains with the arms are moved horizontally to transfer the arms in their elevated position hori- In the cylinder 93 is a zontally, while at the same time moving the arms that are still on the lower chain, all with respect to the several tanks. This serves to transfer the lifting arms over the adjacent tank. When this horizontal movement has been accomplished, then the timing mechanism shifts the valve 89 and the elevator is lowered to lower the arms at their lower-most position on the lower chain with the work piece in the new tank. At the same time, the chain actuating cylinder has had its piston rod and piston 48 and 49 returned tov their initial position.

Referring to the modification of Figures 17, 18 and 19, by this arrangement there is eliminated the trackway 58, and there is substituted for it a short lifter to engage roller 35, as at 35a. This is mounted on the elevator 54. A similar projection 35a is placed on the elevator at the point where a carrier is to be lowered. A latch |01 is pivotally mounted at |08 on the carrier 3|. This latch is adapted to be engaged with the shoulder |09 on the chain` attachment ||0 to which the chain is attached. The chain is omitted for the purpose of clarity. This latch |01 is provided with an arm on which is a roller ||2 that` is engaged by the spring pressed head I3 on the pin |4. This pin is carried in the ears on the elevator 54. The spring I I6 tends to keep this unlatching member I3 in its uppermost position. The elevator moves the arm 3| until it is latched in its uppermost position. The arm hangs on the chain while the chain is moving ahead, and the elevator returns to its lower position as soon as it has hung the arm on the hook. After the chain and all the arms have moved forward the elevator 54 again rises and lifts up the next succeeding arm and at the same time, it unhooks the preceding arm, this is indicated in Figure 17, and lowers it on the down stroke. This method of operation does not change the chain arrangement of the apparatus, but it is a useful modification, where the required forward speed of the conveyor in terms of carriers delivered to the unloading space per unit of time is such that there is no need of a dwell period between forward movements. It may also be used with a continuously moving main chain. For a continuously running chain, a motor can drive shaft 40 through a necessary reduction gear, and this same motor can operate the timing mechanism in the place of motor 19. These are all matters within the skill of the mechanic in this art.

It is obvious that the details of this control may be widely varied while preserving the principles of the operation. It is preferred to use water for the hydraulic cylinders so that any water therefrom may go to the rinse tanks. The minimum of power is necessary because the fluid in the elevator is in a counter-balanced position, so that only the balance has to be overcome. The several elevators are operated in unisonfthrough this vator means for engaging and moving said arms while maintaining the longitudinal position of the arms with respect to said carryingv means unchanged, said vertically reciprocable moving `means being adapted for intermittently engaging rleasta portion .of .said armsfor-v elevating them ony said guide-Ways, means to guide said arms so elevated` horizontally, and means for .moving said chains and guide means with said arms to effectl l horizontal movement of both the arms that are elevated and those that are not.

3. In an electroprocessing machine, a support, a plurality of tanks, an upper and`lower chain mounted on s'aid support, vertically disposed guides interconnecting said chains, work` piece carrying arms mounted on said guides, a common driving means for said chains adapted to move all of said'guides, an elevator arranged to engage at least a portion of said arms for elevating them on said guide-ways, means to guide said arms so elevated horizontally, and means for moving said chains and guide means with said arms to effect horizontal movement of both the arms that are elevated and those that are not, and control means so arranged as to control the elevating means and the chain moving means so that the arms are first elevated, then the chain means is gagingl position once more.

4. In an electroprocessing machine, a central framework,la'y series of. tanks arranged adjacent said framework, upper and lower chains mounted on said framework, rods arranged in pairs between said chains, a common actuating means for said chains, side arms mounted on said `rods and a plurality of elevators adapted to engage the inner ends of said side arms to intermittently elevate and lower them, and means on said elevators adapted to engage with the inner ends of said arms to hold said arms in their elevated position while they move transversely of said` elevators.

5. In an electroprocessing machine, a central framework, a series of tanks arranged adjacent said framework, upper and lower chains mounted on said framework, rods arranged in pairs between said chains, a common actuating means for said chains, side arms mounted on said rods and a plurality of elevators adapted to engage the inner ends of said side arms to intermittently elevate and lower them, and means on said 'elevators adapted to engage with the inner ends of said arms to hold said arms in their elevated position while they move transversely ofV said elevators, said last mentioned means comprising an elevated swinging trackway adapted to engage Witha'roller on the inside of said side arms.

6. In an electroprocessing machine, a central frame, a seriesk of tanks disposed around the outside of said frame, upper and lower conveyor chains arranged to pass inside vof the inner margins of said tanks, pairsof vertically disposed rods interconnecting said chains, side arms having inner and outer .rollers at their inner ends adapted to ride on said rods and to be conveyed by said chains, intermediate elevators at spaced intervals adapted to engage rollers on the inside of said arms, swinging trackways on said elevators for engaging" said last mentioned rollers, yielding means for positioning said swinging trackways with respect to said rollers whereby said arms move horizontally over the tank on one side in one direction and over the tank on the other side in thev other direction while oppositely disposed arms are simultaneously elevated and lowered.

'7. In an electroprocessing machine, a central frame, a series of tanks disposed around the outside of said frame, upper and lower conveyor chains arranged to pass inside of the inner margins of said tanks, pairs of vertically disposed rods interconnecting saidfchains, side arms having inner and outer rollers at their inner ends adapted to ride on said rods and to be conveyed by said chains, intermediate elevators at spaced intervals adapted to engage rollers on the inside of said move horizontally over the tank on one side in' one direction and over thel tank onl the other side in the other direction while oppositely disposed arms are simultaneously elevated and lowered, and means for actuating said chains and arms to movethem horizontally, while at least a portion of said arms are elevated above the lower chain.

8. In combination,l a framework, chains traveling on the periphery thereof, vertically disposed rods between said chains, means on said framework for guiding the chains at the top and bottom of said load elevator guide rods therebetwen, elevators mounted thereon and vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders with pistons and piston rods therein connected to said elevators mounted within said framework, laterally disposed side arms mounted on said rods adapted to be transported by said chains, and means on said elevator for engaging with certain of said rods.

9. In an electroprocessing machine an elevator comprising raising and lowering means, a transversely swinging arcuate track mounted thereon, means of yieldingly holding said track in a predetermined position, and a transporting carrier chain side arms spaced thereon a distance less than the length of said track.

10. In a conveyor, transversely operating conveyor means arranged in super-imposed spaced relationship, an elevator adapted to selectively elevate carrier arms reciprocatingly mounted between said chain means and carried thereby horizontally, meansl on said carrier means for` an elevator, means on said elevator for engaging at spaced intervals said carrier arms, means on said carrier arms for locking them on the upper chain means, and means on the elevator at spaced intervals for effecting an unlocking of one carrier arm while the other carrier arm is being moved adjacent thereto into locking position on said carrier.

12. In an electroprocessing machine, `a support,

a plurality of tanks,. an upper and lower chain mounted on said support, vertically disposed guides interconnecting said chains, work piece carrying arms mounted on said guide means and adapted to move with said guide means between said chains, an elevator arranged to engage at least a portion of said arms for elevating them on said guide-ways, means to guide said arms so elevated horizontally, and means for moving said chains and guide means with said arms to effect horizontal movement of both the arms that are elevated and those that are not.

13. In an electroprocessing machine, a support, a plurality of tanks, an upper and lower chain mounted on said support, vertically disposed guide means interconnecting said chains,

a common driving means for said chains, work piece carrying arms mounted on said guide means and adapted to move with said guide means between said chains, an elevator arranged to engage at least a portion of said arms for elevating them on said guide-ways, means to guide said arms so elevated horizontally, and means for moving said chains and guide means with said arms to effect horizontal movement of both the arms that are elevated and those that are not, and control means so arranged as to control the elevating means and the chain moving means so that the arms are rst elevated, then the chain means is actuated to move the arms horizontally, and thereafter the arms are lowered into chain engaging position once more.

GUERIN TODD. 

